INSTRUMENTS OF AUTHORITY: Johor has three state krises, but presently only the Kris of the Family Order and the Kris of the Order of the Crown are exhibited at state functions
JOHOR BAHRU: SULTAN Abu Bakar commissioned two sceptres as instruments of authority. The spiritual sceptre of religion (cogan agama) is placed on the right at royal ceremonies, symbolic of the status of Islam as the state religion. The sceptre is designed as a pear-shaped disc measuring 0.6 metre although Malay traditionalists believe it is in the shape of the betel leaf (sirih) commonly used in Malay rituals.
The sceptre is mounted on a 1.8m silver staff of exquisite design. The gold disc is divided into three sections. In the central portion appear the Arabic characters "Allah" and "Muhammad" and below it the state motto "Kepada Allah Berserah" (Unto God Resigned).
The remaining sections contain the floral design of pepper (Piper Nigrum) and gambier (Uncaria gambier) in relief interspersed with small crescents and stars and replicas of the crown.
In the centre of the reverse appear the Arabic characters "O! God Almighty", encircled by six Arabic characters to mean to hold firmly to Allah (yang berpegang teguh kepada Allah). Directly above the characters appears the name "Abu Bakar". Below it and to the right is the word "Tun" and to the left "Enche' Ungku" and "Sultan", while above it the words "Temenggong" and "Maharaja".
These words describe the various titles in the life of Abu Bakar before he assumed the title of Sultan in 1885.
The temporal sceptre of the universe (cogan alam) is in the form of a golden crescent and star of five points measuring 30.48cm and surmounted on a 1.68m silver staff exquisitely designed with pepper and gambier motif in relief.
The sceptres consolidate Abu Bakar's faith in Islam and the creator of the universe. Both sceptres precede the other instruments in a royal ceremonial procession.
In a battle, spears and lances were used as weapons for protecting the ruler and were positioned at his flanks. In peacetime, the spears provide symbolic protection to the ruler during a procession or at a royal ceremony.
There are 16 state spears in the Johor royal court, placed eight on each side of the procession and the throne. The spears are 2.14m long. The silver gilt shaft is ornately designed with the crescent and stars and the pepper and gambier motifs.
A silver gilt band known as knop decorated with foliated design projects at the head of the shaft. The knop contains the heraldic white shield in the middle of which is a crescent and star. Second and third knops are added halfway down and at the bottom of the shaft. The blades are kris-like in shape with seven curves, and gold plated with an elaborate pepper and gambier design.
The Johor spears differ from the ceremonial lances of the Yang DiPertuan Agong, Kelantan and Negri Sembilan which are decorated with coloured tassels or horse hair around the shaft. The 40 ancient lances of Johor are not part of the royal regalia but used as decorative pieces at the Istana Besar.
No Malay court regalia are complete without the traditional Malay dagger or kris regarded as the most important weapon of the Malays. The kris a double-edged dagger was designed to serve men who fought at close quarters in the interior of buildings, in narrow streets and winding jungle tracks where spears and lances were an encumbrance. The blade is often sinuous (kris berlok).
The number of curves is counted alternately on either side starting from the top of the blade and is always uneven, the most common being seven.
Johor has three state krises, but presently only the Kris of the Family Order and the Kris of the Order of the Crown are exhibited at state functions. An ancient kris last used during the coronation of Sultan Ismail has a 43.18cm sinuous blade with eleven curves and its origin is believed to date back to the 15th century.
The hilt is encased in gold with a simple design. The cross piece of the blade is ornate with miniature golden figures of two flying lions thought to be of Persian or Turkish influence, and the motif of pepper and gambier.
The twin ceremonial kris of Johor is evident of Abu Bakar's wisdom of introducing modernity to Johor and a departure from the traditional Malay customary rituals. The Kris of the Family Order is a 60.96cm straight blade with the inscription in Arabic "O! God Almighty. Sultan Abu Bakar Ibni Ibrahim 1278". The motto of the Family Order, Muafakat Itu Barkat (Concord is a Blessing) is engraved on the reverse. The hilt designed in the Bugis Jawa Deman-style popularised by the legendary Hang Tuah is studded with small diamond crowns and is surmounted with a small replica of the crown.
The golden sheath has a small replica of the crown near the hilt. It is adorned with small heads in relief of various animals found in the state, a reminder of the wildlife that roamed the jungles of Johor.
The blade of the Kris of the Order of the Crown bears a similar Arabic inscription but on the reverse is the motto of the Order "Kepada Allah Berserah" (Unto God Resigned). The hilt of similar design of Jawa Deman is studded with small diamond crescents and stars, and surmounted with a crescent and star.
The sheath features a diamond crescent and star near the hilt, and the gold work has a motif of pepper, gambier and other plants in relief.
At a ceremonial procession The Kris of the Family Order is positioned after the Sovereign Standard, while the Kris of the Order of the Crown follows the state flag. In the Throne Room, the two krises are positioned immediately behind the Ruler.
Dato' Abdul Rahim Ramli is secretary of the Council of the Royal Court.
This is the ninth article in a series of 13 in the run-up to Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar's coronation.
JOHOR BAHRU: SULTAN Abu Bakar commissioned two sceptres as instruments of authority. The spiritual sceptre of religion (cogan agama) is placed on the right at royal ceremonies, symbolic of the status of Islam as the state religion. The sceptre is designed as a pear-shaped disc measuring 0.6 metre although Malay traditionalists believe it is in the shape of the betel leaf (sirih) commonly used in Malay rituals.
The sceptre is mounted on a 1.8m silver staff of exquisite design. The gold disc is divided into three sections. In the central portion appear the Arabic characters "Allah" and "Muhammad" and below it the state motto "Kepada Allah Berserah" (Unto God Resigned).
The remaining sections contain the floral design of pepper (Piper Nigrum) and gambier (Uncaria gambier) in relief interspersed with small crescents and stars and replicas of the crown.
In the centre of the reverse appear the Arabic characters "O! God Almighty", encircled by six Arabic characters to mean to hold firmly to Allah (yang berpegang teguh kepada Allah). Directly above the characters appears the name "Abu Bakar". Below it and to the right is the word "Tun" and to the left "Enche' Ungku" and "Sultan", while above it the words "Temenggong" and "Maharaja".
These words describe the various titles in the life of Abu Bakar before he assumed the title of Sultan in 1885.
The temporal sceptre of the universe (cogan alam) is in the form of a golden crescent and star of five points measuring 30.48cm and surmounted on a 1.68m silver staff exquisitely designed with pepper and gambier motif in relief.
The sceptres consolidate Abu Bakar's faith in Islam and the creator of the universe. Both sceptres precede the other instruments in a royal ceremonial procession.
In a battle, spears and lances were used as weapons for protecting the ruler and were positioned at his flanks. In peacetime, the spears provide symbolic protection to the ruler during a procession or at a royal ceremony.
There are 16 state spears in the Johor royal court, placed eight on each side of the procession and the throne. The spears are 2.14m long. The silver gilt shaft is ornately designed with the crescent and stars and the pepper and gambier motifs.
A silver gilt band known as knop decorated with foliated design projects at the head of the shaft. The knop contains the heraldic white shield in the middle of which is a crescent and star. Second and third knops are added halfway down and at the bottom of the shaft. The blades are kris-like in shape with seven curves, and gold plated with an elaborate pepper and gambier design.
The Johor spears differ from the ceremonial lances of the Yang DiPertuan Agong, Kelantan and Negri Sembilan which are decorated with coloured tassels or horse hair around the shaft. The 40 ancient lances of Johor are not part of the royal regalia but used as decorative pieces at the Istana Besar.
No Malay court regalia are complete without the traditional Malay dagger or kris regarded as the most important weapon of the Malays. The kris a double-edged dagger was designed to serve men who fought at close quarters in the interior of buildings, in narrow streets and winding jungle tracks where spears and lances were an encumbrance. The blade is often sinuous (kris berlok).
The number of curves is counted alternately on either side starting from the top of the blade and is always uneven, the most common being seven.
Johor has three state krises, but presently only the Kris of the Family Order and the Kris of the Order of the Crown are exhibited at state functions. An ancient kris last used during the coronation of Sultan Ismail has a 43.18cm sinuous blade with eleven curves and its origin is believed to date back to the 15th century.
The hilt is encased in gold with a simple design. The cross piece of the blade is ornate with miniature golden figures of two flying lions thought to be of Persian or Turkish influence, and the motif of pepper and gambier.
The twin ceremonial kris of Johor is evident of Abu Bakar's wisdom of introducing modernity to Johor and a departure from the traditional Malay customary rituals. The Kris of the Family Order is a 60.96cm straight blade with the inscription in Arabic "O! God Almighty. Sultan Abu Bakar Ibni Ibrahim 1278". The motto of the Family Order, Muafakat Itu Barkat (Concord is a Blessing) is engraved on the reverse. The hilt designed in the Bugis Jawa Deman-style popularised by the legendary Hang Tuah is studded with small diamond crowns and is surmounted with a small replica of the crown.
The golden sheath has a small replica of the crown near the hilt. It is adorned with small heads in relief of various animals found in the state, a reminder of the wildlife that roamed the jungles of Johor.
The blade of the Kris of the Order of the Crown bears a similar Arabic inscription but on the reverse is the motto of the Order "Kepada Allah Berserah" (Unto God Resigned). The hilt of similar design of Jawa Deman is studded with small diamond crescents and stars, and surmounted with a crescent and star.
The sheath features a diamond crescent and star near the hilt, and the gold work has a motif of pepper, gambier and other plants in relief.
At a ceremonial procession The Kris of the Family Order is positioned after the Sovereign Standard, while the Kris of the Order of the Crown follows the state flag. In the Throne Room, the two krises are positioned immediately behind the Ruler.
Dato' Abdul Rahim Ramli is secretary of the Council of the Royal Court.
This is the ninth article in a series of 13 in the run-up to Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar's coronation.
